Hi all - I had these done at Botcon 05 by Aaron Archer and Eric Siebenaler. They are sharpie on cardboard. I love them to pieces, but just don't have a place to display them w/ my collection, so am offering them up, but am not sure what would be a reasonable price to ask. Thoughts?
Sorry, this just really irritates me. They didn't do those sketches so you could make money on them, they drew them for you, specifically. I am sorry you do not have room for them, but maybe one day you will. In the mean time, put them aside in a safe, dry place, and treasure that you really have a one of a kind item.
I agree, that said I'm sure there are those who would buy them buy i haven't a clue what they would go for.
THIS! These aren't drawings that you just obtained, or bought, they were done FOR YOU. I don't know a single artist who would like to know that they did a sketch for someone and then they turned around and sold it. Find someplace to display them (hint-the wall) or find some place to store them. If you HAVE to sell them(and I really want to stress HAVE TO), then sell them for what you paid for them.
Believe me, I thought about the 'making money' off of them angle before posting this. I'm not trying to turn their donated time into a means for people to get something to sell - I've enjoyed them for 5 years. I have an attachment to them and would like to get a little something in return for them - not 'cash in' by throwing them on ebay or the like. We get lots of free stuff at conventions that we sell - i thought I could find them a good home.
I bet you didn't think you'd get yelled at when you decided to post a question. I really dig stuff like this. It's too bad they're on cardboard--probably makes framing either really pricey or a major bitch to do yourself, otherwise I'd take that Prime off your hands. I don't know how you put a value on something like this though. I guess it all depends on how much you need that space and how much you need a few extra bucks. They are yours though; do what you want with them.
No idea, stuff like that is very hard to price because you never know. Throw it up on ebay and see what it gets is my only advice. Just don't be surprised if it sells for under 20 bucks
Ok, so two artists drew FOR YOU, putting hard work and effort into something special, and you are equating them to other freebies you get at conventions? These aren't mass produced, they are special. As an artist, I can tell you right now we HATE doing artwork for someone, then having them turn around and sell it. Next time you are at a convention, before the artist does the sketch, tell them about this. That the second you don't have room for them, you are going to sell them. I promise you they aren't going to be happy, wont do the sketch and tell you to go away. To be clear, you do have every right to sell it. Its just a d**k move, especially when you post a thread asking how much you think you can get for them. Charge whatever you think they are worth. If they are worth that much to someone, they will pay it. I'd say, given the material they done on, probably about ten bucks each. It isn't exactly archival.
Sell them on ebay and donate the money to charity. They were given to you as a gift, as something special and personal, and its only right that any money made from their sale be put to a similarly charitable intention.
The "not enough room" bit doesn't make much sense to me. They're just pieces of cardboard, how much space does it take to store them if they're not on display? If you're really looking to give them a good home and not turn a profit I'd suggest posting them in the Junkion Forum where the buyer would just pay shipping to get them.
Aaam...You dont have room for 2 sketches on cardboards? You cant store them for the moment? I mean, i got sketches before from local artist and i have them stored and conserved til i make more room. If you need the cash, go ahead, sell them. But the "no more room" sounds a bit weak excuse. Sorry if this offended you.
I expected some indignation, but crikey - you'd think I kicked a baby or something. First of all, I never said I didn't have any room to store them as that would be ridiculous. The direction I have taken my collection, my display, and the decor of my home is such that these don't really fit (and not in the 'physical' sense). I'm selling off other toys that don't fit as well, despite my liking them - other considerations take precedence. Now, in reading the comments, it seems these were free gifts that were done solely for me and it would be better to burn them than sell them, but if I must sell them, then I have to give any profits to charity or else be labeled a d*ck? Niiiice. I don't mean to be inflammatory. I respect that side of the argument. I respect that some artists may not want sketches sold. I'd say that these were far from free - I spent a lot of money to go to and get in the convention. Were they personal gifts? Eh, in a sense. It is akin to an autograph, but instead of spending 3 seconds, them spent 1-2 minutes. I appreciated their effort and time, but it was by no means a massive investment on their part. They are certainly unique and I've enjoyed them for 5 years w/ no intention of selling them, but as stated, I'm changing my collection and they're not really in the plans, so I was looking into getting rid of them. I didn't imagine these would rake in the dough - that wasn't the point of asking. I was envisioning a modest amount of 10-20 per - I asked to see if there was an extreme - either no market for them or a bustling market, mainly out of curiosity and to 'share' them a little through pictures. I'd consider the 10-20 pretty nominal rather than scalping. Donating profits to charity, giving them away, storing them so nobody can enjoy them - they're all good options. I just don't see my option as villainous - maybe it isn't as magnanimous, but I'm generous in a lot of other ways that don't need to be detailed here. Anyway, I appreciate everyone's opinions and feedback!
For a "sharpie" on cardboard these are a treasure you should keep, if they were mine I'd NEVER give them up, just hang on to them, I don't think you'll be sorry.
Dude. They are yours. If you wanna sell them, do it. I agree that they were made for you specifically, but they are still your property. Sell them if you want too. And it's not like you put them up on eBay with a $1,000 Buy it Now. I get the impression you're just trying to figure out a fair price. Sounds like your collecting habits are going in a new/different direction, and rather than throwing them away, you just want to pass them on to someone who will appreciate them. Not sure I see what's wrong with that.....
WTF is up with all the hate? Mate, if you don't want to hold on to them, by all means sell them, it's really not the cardinal sin some replies here would lead you to believe. Personally I'd hold on to them, seeing as they're very special, but that's just me. Pricing these are near impossible, but when the right person comes along I'd expect you could make a decent dollar. Meaning, I could totally see someone paying at least $100 each for the drawings. No, that person isn't me, but GL with selling them!
Well then say that, don't say there isn't room in your collection. Even still, these are peices of cardboard, you can keep them somewhere else until your collection comes back around. Hey now, I just said it was a d*ck move. That doesn't make you a d*ck. Example: For my brithday, my mother-in-law made me a cloak. It's really nice, a beautiful velvet with silver clasp. I've always wanted one, I think they look neat. She put a lot of effort into that and she made it for me. Now, do I go around and sell it because it won't always match my wardrobe? NO! I keep it! I keep it until it either doesn't match anything or I have no other choice but to get rid of then, and THEN I give it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. And for God's sake don't burn them! That's an even BIGGER insult to the artist. I'm sorry, but I have to yell a little here. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH IT COST YOU TO GET THERE? DID YOU GO ONLY FOR THE SKETCHES? DID THE ARTIST SEE A PENNY OF YOUR TRAVEL EXPENSES? DID YOU EXCHANGE MONEY DIRECTLY WITH THE ARTISTS? NO!! THEN THEY WERE EFFING FREE!!!! OK, calm now. No, these are NOTHING like autographs. And I'm sure they took more than 2 minutes. It would be at aroudn 5 minutes for the Prime and probably closer to 10 on the Primal, considering how clean it is. But these are artwork, effort, years of experience and a desire to make a fan happy went into these. Also, you want to consider the travel expenses as money spent on the peices but you want to completely disregard the education, expereince and talent of the artist? No, that doesn't work that way! Yes it is. Artists don't usually get paid very well to go to conventions. They also have to put their other projects (of which most of them have a lot as they don't get paid very well unless they are doing a LOT of work) on hold. They do it as a service for the fans, to gather more and as marketing. It is a major time and money crunch on them. Are you starting to see why it is a bit insulting? Personally, I think this is even worse than saying you dont' have physical room. Seriously, you can't just keep them? You don't think you wouldn't find some other place for them? You can't just move them somewhere else, away from your collection? An office or a bedroom or even a bathroom (frame those first). Here's the problem. You didn't ask if a certain amount seemed reasonable. You didn't say "Hey, I'm changing my collection and, as much as I hate to say it, I just can't keep these with it anymore. I was thinking of selling these off, giving them to someone who would love them as much as I have for years. Do you think about 10 or 20 bucks would be good? I want to make sure the person is serious and to cover any/all shipping costs." I can't speak for everyone but you know what, I would have been OK with that. But you asked how much you could get for them. I'm sorry, but that sounds like you are trying to get as much money for them as possible and are now trying to cover your ass because of the backlash. No one is saying you are being villainous or aren't a generous person. Get of the cross, you aren't a martyr. The truth is, from everything I read here, you never appreciated these things as art or the effort that was put into it. You thought they were nice drawings that went nicely with your stuff, but now your stuff is changing and you don't want to keep them anymore. I personally think, based on your original post, that you thought you could get a lot of money for an original sketch and beleived that we would start an unofficial bidding war. Instead, you insulted people who would have given their right hand for that sort of thing and insulted artists who like doing stuff like this but do it for the fan, not so they can sell it when a fickle mood takes them. Seriously, just put that stuff on eBay and sell it for however much you want. They are yours. People will pay for them what they feel they are worth. Just remember, when you ask for people's opinions, be prepared to get them!